by Brian DiDonato and Jessica Martini
LEXINGTON, Kentucky–Strong trade continued into Book 2 of the Keeneland September Sale Friday, with rises in year-over-year average and median and a seven-figure session topper.
A total of 242 yearlings changed hands Friday for gross receipts of $38,898,000. The average of $160,736 represented a 7.82% increase from last year's corresponding figure, while the median rose from $120,000 to $130,000–an 8.33% improvement. The buy-back rate was 30.46% vs. 28.33% in 2015.
The day's top price was the $1 million paid by agent Mike Ryan on behalf of E5 Racing for hip 845. The Curlin colt was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, Agent for Stonestreet Bred & Raised.
“Book 2 started off very well,” said Keeneland's Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell. “Having a million-dollar horse in Book 2 is a nice surprise. He's a beautiful colt who was obviously well-regarded by some very sharp people.”
This was the first time a yearling reached the seven-figure threshold in Book 2 since two horses did in 2011.
For the three Book 1 sessions and Book 2 opener, 588 yearlings have sold for a combined $159,123,000. The average of $270,617 is up 9.77% from this point last year, while the median in unchanged at $200,000. The cumulative RNA rate is 30.58%. It was slightly lower at this point last year at 30%.
“It was a great depth of buyers [Friday]–good cross-section,” added Russell. “We had some international people still here buying. Mr. [Hideyuki] Mori from Japan stood out as one person who bought a few horses. The Europeans are still busy–we've seen good participation from the European pinhookers, who have had great success out of this sale. Domestic [interest] has also, obviously, been very strong.”
The second and final session of Book 2 begins Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
Ryan Reaches High on Behalf of Upstart Operations
Agent Mike Ryan, acting on behalf of relative newcomers e Five Racing and Magic Cap Stables, was extremely active during Friday's Keeneland September session. He went to $520,000 to secure a Paynter half-brother to GISW Starship Truffles (Ghostzapper), consigned to the sale by Gerry Dilger's Dromoland Farm as hip 747, and later paid nearly double that when stretched to $1 million for a Curlin colt out of SW and GSP Glinda the Good (Hard Spun). The session topper was consigned to the sale as hip 845 by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency on behalf of breeder Stonestreet Farm.
“They're two young guys from Florida who I've bought some horses for in the past,” Ryan said of his clients. “They have a quality stable and they want to race some colts.”
Ryan declined to name either entity's principals. Among e Five's current runners is the Chad Brown trainee Zindaya (More Than Ready), who Ryan picked up for $550,000 as a horse of racing age out of the Regis Farms consignment at last year's Keeneland November Sale. Already a two-time stakes winner for Christophe Clement at the time, the now 5-year-old annexed the Intercontinental S. over the Belmont sod this June.
Fellow Brown pupil New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro) was a $450,000 pick-up at this sale 12 months ago, and rallied from far back to complete the exacta on debut over the Elmont lawn Sept. 5 while carrying the neon green and purple E5 silks. In It for the Gold (Speightsown), a $225,000 Fasig-Tipton October grad of 2015, has been third in each of her two outings for e Five and Rudy Rodriguez, most recently when behind 'TDN Rising Star' Cherry Lodge (Bernardini) at the Spa Aug. 7. She's 6-5 on the morning line to break her maiden at Belmont Sunday.
Magic Cap Stables campaigns the likes of juvenile filly Jamyson 'n Ginger (Bernardini–Ginger Brew), a $280,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida grad who was third for Rodriguez behind 'Rising Star' Aspen Hilltop (Bernardini) at Saratoga Aug. 14.
“They're really enjoying it–they understand that this is a 5-year program,” Ryan added. “Last year we bought all fillies, but they wanted to mix it up this year and get a few good colts.”
Of hip 845, Ryan said, “He's the complete package. He'll be a [good] 2-year-old, but he'll also train on. He's just a free-moving horse with a great mind on him. He was a very easy horse to like–it didn't take much genius to pick him out. He's as good a Curlin as you're going to find.”
Ryan wasn't surprised to have to stretch to the seven-figure mark, fending off the likes of Lane's End Farm's Bill Farish in the process.
“I knew it'd be hard to get him, but I'm a big fan of Curlin–we bought [MGISW] Palace Malice as a yearling ($25,0000 KEESEP '11),” he noted. “Curlin is Curlin–we all know what he's done. In my mind, he's as good as Tapit… There's a lot of money still here. You've got all the big players–Mr. Farish, Woodford, Zayat, Baffert–they're all here still. He would've made that kind of money in Book 1, too, but he stood out. I saw him on the farm and loved him.”
Hip 747 hails from the first crop of 2012 GI Haskell Invitational S. winner and GI Belmont S. runner-up Paynter (Awesome Again), who famously overcame a near-fatal illness to make a successful return to the track. He is the most expensive Paynter to have sold at auction to date.
“I love Paynter–I have a share in him,” Ryan commented. “I was so impressed with him on the racetrack with his tenacity and desire to win, and then how he overcame a serious illness to come back and perform very well afterwards. He had to have the heart of a lion. He was a serious racehorse, and this is the best one I've seen by him. Obviously I wasn't alone, because we stretched big time.” –@BDiDonatoTDN
Curlins All Over Kentucky for Stonestreet
It was just a minute or two before hip 845 was set to sell, but Stonestreet principal Barbara Banke and her trusted advisor John Moynihan were focused on another youngster by the Stonestreet colorbearer and Hall of Famer. Mark Casse-trained Banke homebred Valadorna (Curlin) had just put in a promising late run in her career debut to complete the exacta in a one-mile Churchill Downs maiden special weight for juvenile fillies as the price tag on hip 845 rose to seven figures.
“It's funny how it kind of worked out,” Moynihan offered. “We were watching the warm-up and we said, 'This filly's going to run probably at the same time our horse is going to sell.' We're tickled to death.”
Hip 845's dam Glinda the Good is a half to MGSW and GISP turfer Take the Ribbon (Chester House)–herself the dam of two-for-two 'TDN Rising Star' Take These Chains (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}); SW and GSP Flash Forward (Curlin); U.S. stakes winner and French group-placed Flash Mash (Smarty Jones); and MSW Bright Magic), the dam of Grade III-winning juvenile Exfactor (Exchange Rate). Glinda the Good's second dam was responsible for MGISW Magical Maiden, who in turn produced GISW Miss Houdini.
A $200,000 RNA here in 2010, Glinda the Good was third in the 2011 GII Pocahontas S. for Stonestreet and Steve Asmussen and annexed the Instant Racing S. at Oaklawn the following April. Her first foal, a colt now named Goodzapper (Ghostzapper), was picked up by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing for $250,000 at this auction last year. He most recently breezed at Gulfstream Park Sept. 12. Glinda the Good produced a Speightstown colt this spring and was bred back to Super Saver. –@BDiDonatoTDN
It's All OK for Pioneerof the Nile Colt
“He's for two Oklahomans–Everett Dobson and John Oxley,” trainer Mark Casse smiled after signing the ticket on hip 972 as The Okie Connection. “This is the first one they've been partners on. They've been trying, but this is the first one they've been able to get.”
The yearling is a son of Pioneerof the Nile out of Pontiana (Deputy Minister), a daughter of multiple Grade I winner Shine Again (Wild Again).
Casse already has a potential star by Pioneerof the Nile owned by Oxley in his barn. He trains Classic Empire, who was favored in the GI Hopeful S. before bolting shortly out of the gate.
“We love Pioneerof the Nile,” Casse admitted. “We still believe Classic Empire, even after his little deal that he did in the Hopeful, we think he is one of the best 2-year-olds in the country. So we love Pioneerof the Nile.”
Pontiana, with this foal in utero, sold for $90,000 at the 2015 Keeneland January sale. She was consigned by her co-breeder Gainesway.
Even as the September sale marched into Book 2, Casse was still finding plenty of competition in bidding.
“They're still expensive,” he laughed. @JessMartiniTDN
Shanghai Bobby Colt to Breeze Easy
A colt from the first crop of juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday) will be joining the burgeoning Breeze Easy stable after selling for $400,000 Friday at Keeneland. The youngster (hip 918), out of Mama Tia (Carson City), is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Southern Honey (Colonel John) and stakes winner Cali Thirty Seven (Eskendereya). He was consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock and was bred by Atlas Farm and Conor Doyle.
After breaking down all his pedigree, he looks like a pretty fast horse, just the way he is made he looks quick to me,” explained Breeze Easy racing manager Mike Mollica. “And we are looking for good, fast 2-year-olds. He looks like he'll be a good sprinter–up to seven-eighths–two turns might be questionable on him, but you never know. You start out with a fast horse and see what happens after that. He is good boned and he's pretty hard to fault.”
Shanghai Bobby, who was named champion 2-year-old of 2012 after winning the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI Champagne S., stands at Ashford for $15,000. In addition to hip 918, the stallion was represented by hip 265, who sold Tuesday for $575,000 to Mayberry Farm. His eight to sell this week at Keeneland have averaged $246,875 with a median of $212,500. “You do have some concern when buying a horse by an unproven stallion, but with this horse particular horse and the way he looks, I'm not worried,” commented Mollica. “All the Shanghai Bobbies have a look to them–we've seen plenty. He puts good leg under them and a good shoulder. We've liked what we've seen so far.”
Breeze Easy principal Mike Hall made headlines earlier this year when signing for a Broken Vow colt (hip 901) for $1.2 million at OBS April sale. Breeze Easy teamed up with Ocala horsemen Dean DeRenzo and Randy Hartley to acquire a colt by Curlin for a sale-topping $475,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. @JessMartiniTDN
Jimmy Creed Filly Makes the Report
Two years ago, Gainesway owner Antony Beck paid $175,000 to acquire Yearly Report (General Meeting) at the Keeneland November sale with an eye towards breeding the multiple graded stakes winner to the farm's leading sire Tapit. That the mare, already the dam of GI Spinaway S. winner Condo Commando (Tiz Wonderful), was in foal to Jimmy Creed may have been more of an afterthought, but the resulting filly already proved the mare was worth the investment when selling to Ramona Bass for $385,000 Friday at Keeneland.
“My boss Antony Beck bought the mare from Spendthrift and he offered me a piece of her with the idea that he wanted to breed her to Tapit,” explained Gainesway's Brian Graves, who is co-breeder with Gainesway of hip 700. “I think her pedigree more than anything appealed to him. She was the dam of a Grade I winner and he just thought it would work for Tapit and I just wanted to be involved.”
Graves admitted the filly's final price was a pleasant surprise.
“Honestly coming to the sale, we didn't expect that kind of price for her, but when she got here she showed the same every time and she never got tired,” Graves said. “She showed herself very well. Even going in, our reserve was a fourth of that, so we were elated with the price. There were some very good judges on her, so we are appreciative to everyone who bid and we wish Ramona Bass the best of luck with her.”
The yearling is from the first crop of GI Malibu S. winner Jimmy Creed (Distorted Humor), who stands at Spendthrift Farm for $7,500.
In addition to Condo Commando, Yearly Report is also the dam of multiple graded stakes placed Checklist (Gone West). She produced a filly by Tapit this spring and is currently in foal to Empire Maker. Her 2-year-old colt Condo Prince (Paddy O'Prado) has placed second in a pair of attempts in New York. @JessMartiniTDN
Good Day for Dilger
It was a profitable day at Keeneland September for Dromoland Farm's Gerry Dilger and his partners Friday, as the Lexington-based Irishman pinhooked a pair of pricey yearling colts in the aforementioned hip 747, and hip 855, a son of Uncle Mo acquired by Lane's End for $525,000.
Starship Truffles, a half to hip 747, sold to Castleton Lyons for $1 million at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton July sale shortly after annexing the GI Princess Rooney H. at Calder. Winless in three subsequent tries, she sold to Shadai Farm for $1.5 million in foal to Tapit at last year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
Hip 747 was offered as a weanling days later at the Keeneland November Sale, and Dilger was able to scoop him up for just $150,000.
“What a good, strong colt–just a beautiful individual,” offered Dilger after congratulating a buyer on another purchase from his consignment. “Good mover, great mind. From the day I got him, he just kept going forward the whole time. The good ones are selling well.”
Dilger enjoyed his second score of the day when hip 855, a $100,000 KEEJAN short yearling, realized a 525% return in some eight months' time. The bay colt is the first foal out of a winning half-sister to two-time Grade I-winning millionaire Elloluv (Gilded Time). –@BDiDonatoTDN
Conway Can't Let Curlin Colt Go
Kentucky Attorneys Tom Conway and Charlie Moore were in a jovial mood Friday afternoon after Conway went all the way to $550,000 to buy out Moore on hip 956, a Curlin colt consigned by Eaton Sales. Conway and Moore bred the horse in partnership as Waymore, LLC.
“I'm going to win the [GI Kentucky] Derby with him,” declared Conway in between quips from Moore. “He's an athlete. You can look at him and tell he's an athlete. I just couldn't turn him loose. I should've let him go for $400,000 or $500,000, but a horse like that only comes around once in a lifetime. I'm almost 80 years old–if not now, when?”
Conway and Moore purchased hip 956's dam On My Way (Giant's Causeway) for $32,000 at the 2012 Keeneland November Sale carrying a Cape Blanco (Ire) filly who they later sold for $35,000 here in 2014. She produced a Noble Mission (GB) colt earlier this term.
Conway campaigned 2010 GI Blue Grass S. winner and Derby participant Stately Victor (Ghostzapper) along with his son Jack, a prominent politician who ran for governor of Kentucky in 2015. -@BDiDonatoTDN
Book 2 Good to Elm Tree Again
Michelle and Jody Huckabay's Elm Tree Farm sold the second-priciest yearling during Book 2 of last year's Keeneland September Sale in the form of a $600,000 The Factor colt, and offered another standout during the opening session of Book 2. The Elm Tree-consigned hip 696, a colt by More Than Ready, was the first to reach the $500,000 mark Friday with a winning bid of that amount from WinStar Farm and the China Horse Club.
Bred in Kentucky by Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stud, the Apr. 26 foal is a half to stakes-placed Poseidon's Way (Stormy Atlantic) and is a great grandson of MGISW Ms. Eloise (Nasty and Bold).
“The reserve was much, much less than that,” revealed Jody Huckabay, who said putting hip 696 in Book 2 as opposed to Book 1 was a strategic decision to help him stand out. “We brought him up here to try to sell him. He's a very, very nice horse–everybody was on him. We're very pleased.”
WinStar/China Horse Club teamed up on five yearlings in the $475,000 – $600,000 price range during Book 1 (see 'Fruitful Partnership Expands at KEESEP'). Their partnership began with the young Grade I-winning stallion Daredevil (More Than Ready), and WinStar President and CEO Elliott Walden was quick to praise hip 696 and Daredevil's sire, who also stands at WinStar. More Than Ready has sired three grade/group winners in just the last month: GIII Violet S. heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Tammy the Torpedo; GII With Anticipation S. winner Made You Look; and G3 City of York S. victoress Nemoralia.
“He's still got some really good crops, and he keeps getting better over here,” Walden said of More Than Ready. “He's always been a great stallion [in Australia]. This is a really nice horse.”
The Bill Mott-trained WinStar/China Horse Club representative Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday) will contest Sunday's GII Summer S. at Woodbine. –@BDiDonatoTDN
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